Ursid meteor shower 2025: When and where to see 'shooting stars' on the longest night of the year

Nighttime image of a field with a silhouette of a tree. The night sky takes up most of the image, full of stars and a meteor can be seen shooting down on the right side. .

If you're stargazing late overnight on Dec. 21-22, keep an eye out for "shooting stars" as the annual Ursid meteor shower peaks.

Although the Ursids are active from Dec. 13 through Dec. 26, the peak night coincides with the winter solstice, which occurs at 10:03 a.m. EST on Dec. 21. Though the two events are totally unrelated, the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is a great time to look for meteors, and to photograph them if you're up for the challenge.